Food System

Sourcing local food for school lunches is, presumably, a win-win: students get fresh, local food and area farmers have new, consistent marketing options. "If only it were that simple!" writes local food system advocate Brandi Janssen. Here she shares some of the lessons learned when she helped start a farm to school program in an Iowa school district. Despite a slow start, that program has grown tenfold in seven years. Continue Reading

Innovation

When Sustainable America was founded in 2012, it was a bit of a maverick in the non-profit world. We went a step beyond what was standard at the time by investing in early-stage companies engaged in solving environmental problems. What followed was a string of 15 rigorous, mission-aligned investments that continue to grow and create financial, social, and environmental benefits. The success of this portfolio has shown that investing in these kinds of companies can be profitable, which is critical for the longevity of this sector. Learn more about our portfolio and how some of the most successful companies are making a difference.Continue Reading

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Food System

The image of the family farmer holds a special place in the hearts Americans. Fifty years ago a small family farm would probably have been passed down from one generation to the next, or sold to another small family farmer. These days it’s much more likely that the land will pass into the hands of a large-scale farm.Continue Reading

Eco Living

Pumpkins. The plump, orange orbs are everywhere this time of year. While you’re picking out a few for Halloween decorations, it’s worth it to set aside a few for eating too. We’ve rounded up some recipes that will help you make use of everything but the stem, and we’ve found some ideas for what to do with the ones that get carved as well.Continue Reading

Eco Living

When Seattle-based food writer Jill Lightner started researching her book Scraps, Peels, and Stems: Recipes and Tips for Rethinking Food Waste at Home, she asked a diverse bunch of people what their most wasted foods were. “Every single family included leafy greens in their top three,” she said.
To help you waste less leafy greens, Jill offers up easy tips from her book, as well as a chance to win a copy for yourself.Continue Reading

Innovation

Artificial intelligence is changing many things in our lives, including the way our food is produced. Find out how new technologies are helping farmers reduce chemical inputs, detect diseases sooner, buffer against labor shortages, and respond to weather conditions as the climate changes.Continue Reading

Food System

While the convenience of single-serve coffee systems is celebrated by many, the appliance’s darker side—the mountains of unrecyclable waste—is equally abhorred by sustainably-minded folks. Fortunately, alternatives have been popping up on the market that allow you to keep enjoying that hot cup of coffee when you want it while reducing plastic waste and capturing the used coffee grounds for compost.Continue Reading

Food System

In the past six years, the number of community food forests has grown from a handful to more than 70. But what are community food forests, and why are they capturing the imagination of people in neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the United States?Continue Reading